TLEC Grand Opening Show [link]

Equine: AQS Miz D Spitfire (556)
Ref: [link]
Handler/Rider: Quintessa Haverick 37
Class: Costume

Yes, you are looking at the picture correctly ^_^ For those of you that are children of the 80's, you probably recognized this right away as Rainbow Brite and her horse. Q had to make the outfit a little more grown up, but otherwise, she tried to stay as close as possible to the original. That involved a whole lot of horse safe dyes and paints o_O

No pose reference
Rainbow Brite reference: [link]
Wood Texture Brush: [link]
Sand Brush: [link]
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The Story:
It took some time, but eventuall Bob managed to cool himself down. He knew later on, once they got back home, he might have to sit by himself somewhere and let it all really go. He just knew, though, it would have to wait until home considering they were in public right now.

Meandering through the crowd, it took him a good 10 minutes to find even James, who was oddly standing by the woman's bathroom. Bob came up to him with a quizzical expression. "Sooooo, have you always been a creeper and I just didn't know or is this a recent development?"

James gave him a dirty look back, but couldn't hide his smirk from Bob's comment. "Nah, just waiting for Q. She's going to be starting the costume section soon and had to get her outfit on. Man, is it ridiculous," he laughed.

Bob was surprised by this comment considering he had seen Q's initial sketches for her costume idea, a nice medieval getup with a viking apron dress. James had always loved visiting Bob when he worked at local Ren Faires, so he couldn't understand why a viking apron dress would be considered ridiculous by any means. "Okay, I've obviously missed something crucial here; what's so funny about Q's dress?"

His brother only smirked back with a quiet, "You'll see..."

"Bob, is that you I hear?" Q shouted from the otherwise vacant bathroom. Bob awkwardly sidled up to the door. "Yeah, it's me. Look, Q, about....about my sister..."

The bathroom opened a sliver and Q's face was framed by it as she gave him a sympathetic smile. "Bob, it's okay, really. I understand."

Bob shuffled his feet a bit, still feeling the pangs of regret for having omitted so much from Q. "I know you do, but....but I'm still sorry. James was right, you had the right to know...I'm so sorry."

Q's smile broadened. "Oh Bob, if I was totally dressed, I would get out there and give you the biggest hug. Your sorry means so much to me, but you have no reason to be sorry. You only did had you had to do to survive mentally."

"But you understand what this means, don't you? You have been coddling me ever since we met, but now you have to let me go. I am a grown woman and you don't need to protect me. I will always want you around to be my best advisor, to question all decisions I make, to be the Spock to my Kirk, but understand that I am not your sister and you don't need to father me."

Bob nodded sadly and quietly, came closer to the door and leaned his head against the sliver and Q promptly kissed his forehead. For a moment there, James felt quite jealous of the close friendship Q and his brother had developed, but what he didn't realize is that this was one of the first times Bob had ever allowed himself to be this close to another person in years. Little by little, he was letting his old boundaries and walls give way to the love of friendship Q was teaching him.

There was a long pause of silence between the group as Bob remained standing there, his head still against the door and joined with Q's, feeling the friendship between them healing old wounds. After some time, Bob finally let out a great sigh and looked Q in the eyes. "So what is this I am hearing about a ridiculous dress? I thought you were doing the viking bit?"

Q's smile got even bigger, toothy mischeviousness busting through. "That's for me to know and you to find out a little later Bob. Let's just say it is a bit of nostalgia." And with that, she slipped the door shut and the men walked back to arena to await their surprise.